MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
July 9, 2007

 Meeting convened at 7:00 P.M. Pledge to flag followed. Selectmen present: Muriel Bonin (chair), Glen Ridley and Mark Russell. Guests included:

Chief Mark Kimball               Larry Williams
Carol Bailey                           Teague Morris
Bruce Slattery                        Eric Seaman
Rachel Sukeforth                    Rick Gowell Jr
Rep. Nancy Smith                  Ron Ridley

 

Town Manager, Steve Musica, also served as secretary.

 

• MOTION by Muriel Bonin seconded by Glen Ridley to approve minutes of June 25, 2007 as amended.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

3.0 6.1 Sand Shed Ventilation

• S.W. Haulers Permit Application
• Libby Road Discontinuance
• Seniors Director Position

 

• Woodbury Pond Boat Ramp improvement available for review; agreed to hold a Special Selectmen’s Meeting July 16 at 10 a.m. for dispatching needs; Basketball/Tennis Courts completed and lined; Shelter by Eagle Scout should be done in one week.

 

• Town’s Web Site

Sodalite editor, Teague Morris, photographed BOS for web site, which he works on with Dana Twiss.

 

5.3 Gardiner Ambulance

Chief Mark Kimball gave a presentation on Gardiner Ambulance’s billing procedure, budget of $844K, and percentage of billings from Medicare (47%), MeCare (19%), Insurance Cos. (28%), and self pay (6%). Maine turnpike uncollectables were $1648 over the past 30 months. Assist. Rescue Chief, Rick Gowell confirmed their service was good as well as working relationship. Manager said other ambulance companies factor in uncollectables on contracts. Litchfield’s were 3 times contract amount last year. Kimball thought contract system was unfair. They’d honor our agreement to not bill us for Maine Turnpike calls if we could prove statutory right not to enter private turnpike. BOS took no action on contract. Kimball began discussion on dispatching history with Town…to be continued 7/16/07.

 

6.4 Senior’s Director Position

Manager to write ad, run in K.J. & Sun Journal and due 7/23/07 at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

• School Regionalization/Consolidation

Rob Gordon was unable to make this meeting so item was tabled.

 

5.10 Foreclosure Update

Manager communicating with Bill Lilly’s lawyer Dennis Jones and will send letter explaining Town’s terms and conditions (see 6/25/07 meeting) plus possibility house might be condemned. Manager to pursue structural engineer to evaluate home.

7/9/07 memo from Code Officer reviewed. (See addendum “A”)

Land owner where mobile home is sited, Ron Ridley, explained existing dangerous furnace/heating and potential water delivery problems. BOS consensus to open sealed bid from Ron Ridley that manager’s been holding since when bids originally were due.

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to accept bid from Ron Ridley of $850.00 and have Town Manager prepare documents for ownership transfer upon receipt of bid price.

PASSED 2-0-1 (GR)

(Abstention due to family relationship) Manager to contact Lilly’s attorney with details and possibility of home being condemned.

Upon mobile home owner’s request and on MOTION by Mark Russell and second by Muriel Bonin to postpone July payment on Leavitt’s repurchase agreement and allow double August, 2007 payment.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

5.4 Paving Bids

Three sealed bids opened for approximately 2200 tons of D mix paving.

Pike Industries $53.46 per ton

Ferrialo 56.00

Crooker 65.50

MOTION by Glen Ridley and second by Muriel Bonin to accept Pike’s bid of $53.46 and work to be done by 9/15/07.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

5.5 P.W. Concrete

Two sealed bids opened. Monmouth’s Mid Maine Foundations never got bid returned in time.

Newman Concrete, Richmond $21,500

Norm Comeau & Son, Litchfield 12,400

No action taken until it was established if entire addition could be constructed with money in Bond Account. Manager pointed out Reserve Fund money in Capital Projects 0 Reserve and Sand Shed should be available. Manager to get (now) completed plans to Dan Craft for estimating construction and to submit his contract form, etc. for next regular meeting.

 

5.6 FY 2006-07

Final (June) Financial Statement reviewed. Expenditures $6,592 in black. Overlay of $17,123 was exceeded by $530. Revenues: actual exceeded anticipated (and used in commitment) by $120,123.

 

 

 

5.7 Revaluation

A printout with current (new) land and building schedules had Town valuation in $278 M area – whereas preliminary State valuation was in $283.5 M area. Mr. Ridley led discussion on BOS’s review of valuation. Their conclusion was: waterfront undervalued and larger rural parcels overvalued. Town Manager would do a ratio study (based on available valuations) on various water bodies. This item would be added to Special Selectmen’s Meeting on 7/16 at 8:30 a.m.

 

5.8 New Town Manager

Board reviewed and agreed to wording of an ad drafted by Town Manager. To be run once in Sunday Portland Press Herald ASAP and in next edition of Townsman, information due 8/23/07.

 

6.1 Sand Shed Ventilation

Electrician Bob Kenney’s preliminary costs and 24” fans discussed. Carpentry work needed plus power lift. MOTION by Muriel Bonin seconded by Mark Russell to authorize installation of two appropriate exhaust fans in Sand Shed for health and safety reasons – costs not to exceed $3,500, and funded from Sand Shed Reserve Account.

PASSED: 3-0-0

 

6.2 Solid Waste Haulers

Town neglected to send application to Riverside Disposal in early May. BOS reviewed their application. MOTION by Muriel Bonin seconded by Glen Ridley to approve and issue 2007-08 Hauler’s permit to Riverside Disposal.

PASSED: 3-0-0

 

 

6.3 Libby Road Discontinuance

Mr. Ridley explained his research efforts to gather available information on relocated section. MDOT plan of 1974 reviewed, as this was State Aid Road, returned to town. Town Reports shed little light beyond article language; Dave Byras thought old road “went” to Williams. The deed was descriptive, but not informative as to disposition. Furthermore, it was Ridley’s understanding if a municipality was an abutter during discontinuance, all the old road would revert to them.

 

• MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to appoint the following residents to listed positions:

3-Year Appointments:

Board of Appeals Conservation Commission

Ruth VanArsdale Judy Bourget

Francine Rudoff Diane Clay

Assoc Conservation Commission Recreation Committee

Cynthia DeWitt David Cummings

Buffy Dematheis Roxanne Tuttle

Historical Preservation Comm. New Mills Dan Committee

Rayna Leibowitz David Kamila

Ed Avis

 

 

Woodbury Pond Dam Adv Comm. Smithfield Pltn Board of Tstees

Charles Manchester Diane Clay

Richard Hobart Carol Smith

 

PASSED 3-0-0

• MOTION by Muriel Bonin and seconded by Mark Russell to approve Town Payroll Warrant # 1 for $12,947.68.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

• MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley to approve Town Voucher Warrant #1 (2007-08) for $140,896.10 & #25 (2006-07) for $21,162.65.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

• MOTION by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve School Warrant #1 for $169,570.80.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

5.9 Poverty Abatement

At 10:50 p.m. on MOTION by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin pursuant to MRSA T1 Sect 405(6)(F) enter executive session to consider an abatement for poverty.

 

PASSED 3-0-0

 

Chairman brought out of session at 11:04 p.m. MOTION by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin to deny application due to applicant is not owner of the property nor is it their primary residence.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

• Concrete Bids

MOTION by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin to award concrete work for garage addition to Norm Comeau Jr. & Son Foundations for $12,490 with no timetable to begin construction.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

• Meeting adjourned at 11:07 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Steve Musica

Secretary